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PubMed2026

Prognostic value of lymphopenia in early breast cancer: learnings from the prospective CANTO cohort.

BACKGROUND: Lymphopenia has been associated with poor outcomes in metastatic breast cancer (BC), but its prognostic relevance in early-stage disease remains unclear. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of baseline lymphopenia in patients with non-metastatic BC using data from the prospective French CANTO cohort (NCT01993498). METHODS: 10,854 patients with baseline absolute lymphocyte count (ALC) were analysed. Lymphopenia was defined as ALC < 1.0 × 10⁹ cells/L, measured before any cancer treatment. Relapse-free survival (RFS), overall survival (OS), and treatment-related toxicities were assessed using Kaplan-Meier estimates, piecewise-Cox regression models, and cause-specific hazard analyses considering pre-specified time periods. RESULTS: Baseline lymphopenia was observed in 342 patients (3.1%). It was associated with ECOG performance status > 0, hypoalbuminemia, and prior neoplasia. Lymphopenia correlated with inferior 5-year RFS (89.1% vs. 92.9%) and OS (92.5% vs. 96.4%). In multivariable analyses, lymphopenia was associated with increased risk of early relapse during the first 24 months (HR = 2.11; 95%CI: 1.28-3.48; p = 0.003), but not beyond, and no independent prognostic impact on OS was observed. No significant differences were found in surgical complications or chemotherapy dose intensity, though granulocyte colony-stimulating factor use was higher among lymphopenic patients. CONCLUSION: Baseline lymphopenia is uncommon in early BC but may serve as a marker of early relapse risk. Although it does not independently predict long-term survival, its presence could reflect underlying tumour aggressiveness or patient frailty. These findings support further investigation of lymphocyte subpopulations to refine prognostic stratification in early BC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Approved by French ethics committee in 2011 (ID-RCB:2011-A01095- 36,11-039 /NCT01993498 [20FEB2012]).

Adult↗

PubMed2026

Efficacy of R-GDP therapy as salvage chemotherapy for relapsed or refractory diffuse large B-cell lymphoma.

R-GDP has been established as an effective salvage treatment for Rel/Ref DLBCL. We aimed to clarify the efficacy of R-GDP therapy. We included 41 consecutive patients with Rel/Ref DLBCL, who received R-GDP therapy as salvage chemotherapy at our hospital between January 2014 and August 2024. Thirty-three patients received R-GDP therapy as a 2nd-line regimen, whereas 8 received R-GDP as a 3rd or later-line regimen. The ORR was 70.7%. 23 out of 25 relapsed patients (92%) responded to R-GDP therapy, whereas only 6 out of 16 refractory patients responded (37.5%). With regard to the duration of response, the response rates in 19 patients with late relapse (at least 12 months) and 6 with early relapse (less than 12 months) were 94.7% and 83.3% (p = 0.43). Overall, the 2-year PFS and OS rates were 48.8% and 74.2%, respectively. 18 responders underwent ASCT with a 2-year PFS after ASCT of 61.2%. Although CAR-T is recommended in patients with Rel/Ref DLBCL, R-GDP is a realistic option given the limited availability of immediate CAR-T therapy. Further studies including genomic profiles are warranted to identify factors that can predict a response to R-GDP in Rel/Ref DLBCL.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

The Natural History of Residual and Recurrent Disease in Advanced Juvenile Nasopharyngeal Angiofibroma: A Systematic Review.

OBJECTIVE: This systematic review explores the natural history of residual and recurrent juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibromas (JNAs) to inform clinical decision-making. DATA SOURCES: PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science. REVIEW METHODS: A systematic literature review was conducted according to PRISMA guidelines across PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and Web of Science from inception to February 20, 2025 and was re-run on September 21, 2025. Studies included patients with advanced JNA and documented follow-up of residual or recurrent disease. Descriptive statistics, chi-squared analysis, and analysis of variance were used to evaluate treatment outcomes across different modalities including surgery, radiotherapy, gamma knife surgery, and medical therapies. RESULTS: Twenty-one studies encompassing 131 male patients (mean age 16.3 years) were included. Residual or recurrent disease demonstrated complete involution in 41%, stable disease in 29%, and reduction in size in 25% of cases. Only 2% of patients had progressive disease. A statistically significant association was observed between treatment modality and outcome (p = 0.015), with radiotherapy, either alone, or as part of a multimodal approach, showing the highest rates of spontaneous involution. CONCLUSION: Residual and recurrent JNAs often remain stable or regress without further intervention. Close surveillance with imaging is a safe and effective strategy for asymptomatic patients, minimizing the risks of additional treatment in a young patient population with disease near critical anatomical structures.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

How prevalent is fear of cancer recurrence beyond 5 years: a systematic review of validated assessments across tumour types.

PURPOSE: Fear of cancer recurrence (FCR) is an established challenge for cancer survivors. Research however has largely focussed early in treatment, with varying assessments and often single tumour sites. This systematic review set out to determine prevalence of FCR in survivors beyond 5 years across all tumour types. METHOD: We designed a search strategy to identify publications assessing FCR in survivors beyond 5 years with sample size greater than 50, using validated measures. Applying PRISMA methodology and with defined inclusion and exclusion criteria two authors independently assessed the studies for eligibility. Data extraction recorded number of participants, tumour type, study design, FCR tool, time points for assessment and reported prevalence. Risk of bias was assessed to address quality. RESULTS: Ten papers were included, reporting FCR from 5 years to beyond 20 years. Validated tools employed were FCRI-SF and FOP-Q-SF. Sample sizes ranged from 64 to 5983 participants, with a heterogeneous mix of tumour types and age. Only two studies reported longitudinal measurements. Prevalence of FCR above defined threshold ranged from 13 to 33.9% for those studies with acceptable risk of bias reporting distinct cohorts beyond 5 years. CONCLUSION: The limited evidence suggests that clinically relevant FCR persists in some survivors at 5 years. Our review demonstrates the challenge of heterogeneous patient populations in FCR research emphasising the need for improved consensus on measurements and more prospective longitudinal research representing a comprehensive variety of tumour types. We address the clinical implications of persistent FCR and the need to implement effective interventions.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Feasibility and Efficacy of Lorlatinib in Japanese Patients With Relapsed/Refractory ALK-Aberrant Neuroblastoma.

Lorlatinib, a third-generation ALK inhibitor, was administered off-label to five heavily pretreated patients with relapsed or refractory ALK-aberrant neuroblastoma. ALK alterations included F1174L, R1275Q, BEND5::ALK fusion, and ALK amplification; three patients had MYCN amplification. Best responses were three partial responses and two disease progressions. The longest progression-free survival (6.7 months) occurred in a patient with F1174L and non-amplified MYCN, whereas rapid progression was observed in two MYCN-amplified cases. Lorlatinib was generally well tolerated with manageable adverse events. These findings suggest that lorlatinib is a feasible therapeutic option in ALK-aberrant neuroblastoma and that clinical heterogeneity in treatment response warrants further investigation.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Identification of multicohort-based predictive signature for NMIBC recurrence reveals SDCBP as a novel oncogene in bladder cancer.

BACKGROUND: Despite surgical and intravesical chemotherapy interventions, non-muscle invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) poses a high risk of recurrence, which significantly impacts patient survival. Traditional clinical characteristics alone are inadequate for accurately assessing the risk of NMIBC recurrence, necessitating the development of novel predictive tools. METHODS: We analyzed microarray data of NMIBC samples obtained from the ArrayExpress and GEO databases. LASSO regression was utilized to develop the predictive signature. We combined gene signature and clinicopathological factors to construct a clinical nomogram for estimating NMIBC recurrence in a local cohort. Finally. the biological functions and potential mechanisms of SDCBP in bladder cancer were investigated experimentally in vitro and in vivo. RESULTS: An 8-gene signature was developed, and its efficiency for predicting NMIBC recurrence was evaluated using Kaplan-Meier and time-dependent ROC curves in both training and validation datasets. Immunohistochemical testing revealed elevated levels of ACTN4 and SDCBP in recurrent NMIBC tissues. We integrated the two proteins with clinical factors to develop a nomogram model, which showed superior accuracy compared to individual parameters. Gene Set Variation Analysis and Gene Set Enrichment Analysis unveiled SDCBP exerted cancer-promoting biological processes, such as angiogenesis, EMT, metastasis and proliferation. Experimental procedures demonstrated that silencing SDCBP attenuated cell growth, glucose metabolism and extracellular acidification rate, accompanied by decreased expression of p-AKT, p-ERK1/2, LDHA and Vimentin. CONCLUSIONS: The established 8-gene signature holds promise as a tool for predicting NMIBC recurrence, while targeting SDCBP may represent a potential strategy for delaying disease relapse.

Urinary Bladder Neoplasms↗

PubMed2018

The association between smoking cessation before and after diagnosis and non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer recurrence: a prospective cohort study.

BACKGROUND: Smoking is a major risk factor for bladder cancer, but the relationship between smoking cessation after initial treatment and bladder cancer recurrence has been investigated less frequently and not prospectively yet. METHODS: 722 non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) patients (pTa, pT1, and CIS) from the prospective Bladder Cancer Prognosis Programme (BCPP) cohort, selected in the UK between 2005 and 2011, provided complete data on smoking behavior before and up to 5 years after diagnosis. The impact of smoking behavior on NMIBC recurrence was explored by multivariable Cox regression models investigating time-to-first NMIBC recurrence. RESULTS: Over a median follow-up period of 4.21 years, 403 pathologically confirmed NMIBC recurrences occurred in 210 patients. Only 25 current smokers at diagnosis quit smoking (14%) during follow-up and smoking cessation after diagnosis did not decrease risk of recurrence compared to continuing smokers (p = 0.352). CONCLUSIONS: Although quitting smoking after diagnosis might reduce the risk of recurrence based on retrospective evidence, this is not confirmed in this prospective study because the number of NMIBC patients quitting smoking before their first recurrence was too low. Nevertheless, this indicates an important role for urologists and other health care professionals in promoting smoking cessation in NMIBC.

Aged↗

PubMed2025

Molecular Residual Disease and Recurrence in Rectal Cancer Patients Undergoing Upfront Surgery: A Prospective Cohort Study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the prognostic utility of postoperative circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) for recurrence and treatment response in patients with rectal cancer undergoing upfront surgery. BACKGROUND: ctDNA-based molecular residual disease (MRD) testing shows promise in colorectal cancer, but its role in patients with rectal cancer not receiving neoadjuvant therapy is unclear. This study evaluates whether postoperative ctDNA predicts disease-free survival (DFS) and guides adjuvant chemotherapy (ACT) decisions. METHODS: We analyzed ctDNA from patients with stage II to III rectal cancer (N=250) enrolled in the GALAXY study, a multicenter registry in Japan. A clinically validated, personalized, tumor-informed 16-plex PCR next-generation sequencing assay (Signatera) was used to detect and quantify ctDNA. The primary outcome was DFS, defined as the time from landmark to recurrence, death, or the latest radiologic assessment. RESULTS: In the MRD window (2-10 wk postsurgery, before ACT), 14.2% (35/246) of patients were ctDNA-positive and had significantly shorter DFS (HR: 9.96, 95% CI: 5.76-17.2, P <0.0001). Among patients who were ctDNA-positive in the MRD window, a significant benefit from ACT was observed (HR: 0.28, 95% CI: 0.09-0.89, P =0.031), whereas no benefit was seen in ctDNA-negative patients (HR: 0.59, 95% CI: 0.26-1.35, P =0.211). When analyzing ctDNA dynamics from the MRD window to 6 months postsurgery, recurrence risk was higher in patients who converted from ctDNA-negative to positive (HR: 8.22, 95% CI: 1.86-36.32, P =0.0055) and who remained ctDNA-positive (HR: 45.48, 95% CI: 14.31-144.57, P <0.0001) compared with serially ctDNA-negative patients. CONCLUSIONS: Postoperative ctDNA status is a robust biomarker predicting recurrence risk and ACT benefit in patients with rectal cancer undergoing upfront surgery.

Humans↗

PubMed2017

Nonpromoter methylation of the CDKN2A gene with active transcription is associated with improved locoregional control in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.

We previously reported a novel association between CDKN2A nonpromoter methylation and transcription (ARF/INK4a) in human papillomavirus associated oropharyngeal tumors. In this study we assessed whether nonpromoter CDKN2A methylation in laryngeal squamous cell carcinomas (LXSCC) conferred a similar association with transcription that predicted patient outcome. We compared DNA methylation and ARF/INK4a RNA expression levels for the CDKN2A locus using the Illumina HumanMethylation27 beadchip and RT-PCR in 43 LXSCC tumor samples collected from a prospective study of head and neck cancer patients treated at Montefiore Medical Center (MMC). Validation was performed using RNAseq data on 111 LXSCC tumor samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). The clinical relevance of combined nonpromoter CDKN2A methylation and transcription was assessed by multivariate Cox regression for locoregional recurrence on a subset of 69 LXSCC patients with complete clinicopathologic data from the MMC and TCGA cohorts. We found evidence of CDKN2A nonpromoter hypermethylation in a third of LXSCC from our MMC cohort, which was significantly associated with increased ARF and INK4a RNA expression (Wilcoxon rank-sum, P = 0.007 and 0.003, respectively). A similar association was confirmed in TCGA samples (Wilcoxon rank-sum test P < 0.0001 for ARF and INK4a). Patients with CDKN2A hypermethylation or high ARF/INK4a expression were significantly less likely to develop a locoregional recurrence compared to those with neither of the features, independent of other clinicopatholgic risk factors (adjusted hazard ratio=0.21, 95% confidence interval:0.05-0.81). These results support the conclusion that CDKN2A nonpromoter methylation is associated with increased ARF and INK4a RNA expression, and improved locoregional control in LXSCC.

Carcinoma, Squamous Cell↗

PubMed2025

Long-Term Outcomes of Radiation Monotherapy Versus Combined Radiation Monotherapy + Hormone Therapy in Low-Risk Early-Stage Breast Cancer Patients 70 Years or Older After Breast-Conserving Surgery.

PURPOSE: Standard therapy for breast cancer after breast-conserving surgery is radiation therapy (RT) plus hormone therapy (HT). For patients with a low-risk of recurrence, there is an interest in deescalating therapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A retrospective study was carried out for patients treated at the Swedish Cancer Institute from 2000 to 2015, aged 70 years or older, with pT1N0 or pT1NX estrogen receptor-positive and ERBB2-negative unifocal breast cancer without positive surgical margins, high nuclear grade, or lymphovascular invasion. RESULTS: Patient numbers were sufficient to carry out analyses for RT + HT (n = 307) and RT alone (n = 148). The median follow-up was 9.6 years. There were no statistically significant differences in adjusted overall survival (OS), disease-specific death, progression-free survival (PFS), distant recurrence, and second primary cancers with RT monotherapy compared with RT + HT. Cumulative rates of all of these outcomes were <5%, even at 15 years of follow-up, regardless of treatment, greatly outweighed by the incidence of death from other causes in this elderly population. In matched analysis, we calculated a hazard ratio of 1.12 (95% CI, 0.82-1.53) for RT versus RT + HT for OS and a hazard ratio of 1.12 (95% CI, 0.82-1.53) for RT versus RT + HT for PFS. CONCLUSIONS: Our data suggest that elderly, low-risk breast cancer patients have similarly high OS and PFS with low rates of local recurrence, distant recurrence, and death from breast cancer with much higher rates of death from competing causes, whether treated with RT or HT + RT. These patients are likely to die of other causes without disease recurrence, regardless of which of these treatments is used. Thus, they may benefit from the administration of more modern forms of breast irradiation without the need for adjuvant systemic hormone therapy. A detailed analysis of which clinical, pathologic, genomic, and comorbidity variables are needed to select these patients.

Humans↗

PubMed2024

LRP4 mutations promote tumor progression and resistance to anti-PD-1 therapy in recurrent hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: HCC recurrence is a major factor limiting long-term survival and the cause of most deaths in patients with HCC. However, molecular characterization and potential therapeutic targets of recurrent HCC remain mostly unknown. APPROACH AND RESULTS: We performed whole-exome sequencing in 63 matched primary and recurrent HCC tumors and combined the data with whole-genome sequencing results in 43 paired samples from our previous study. Sanger sequencing was used to identify all low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 ( LRP4 ) coding exons in 203 additional patients with recurrent HCC. We identified LRP4 somatic mutations in 7.8% (24/309) of recurrent tumors and only 0.97% (3/309) of primary tumors ( p <0.001). Prognosis after the second liver resection was poorer in patients with an LRP4 mutation. Biofunctional investigations demonstrated that inactivating LRP4 mutations promoted tumor progression and immunosuppression. Mechanistically, mutated LRP4 reduced intratumoral conventional type 1 dendritic cell and CD8 + T cell infiltration by repressing C-C motif chemokine ligand 4 expression and secretion through activation of β-catenin signaling, resulting in resistance to anti-programmed cell death protein-1 therapy. Patients with recurrent HCC carrying an LRP4 mutation did not benefit from anti-programmed cell death protein-1 treatment after their second resection surgery. A β-catenin inhibitor-reversed LRP4-induced resistance to anti-programmed cell death protein-1 therapy in humanized tumor-bearing mice. CONCLUSIONS: Our results identified novel LRP4 mutations important in recurrent HCC. Inactivating LRP4 mutations were associated with resistance to anti-programmed cell death protein-1 therapy and could be useful biomarkers for precision therapy in patients with recurrent HCC.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Amivantamab in Recurrent/Metastatic Head and Neck Squamous Cell Cancer After Checkpoint Inhibitor and Chemotherapy: Pivotal Results From the Phase Ib/II OrigAMI-4 Study.

Single-agent paclitaxel or cetuximab after immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) and chemotherapy demonstrated objective response rates (ORRs) of 21%-24% in recurrent/metastatic (R/M) head/neck squamous cell cancer (HNSCC). Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and MET are overexpressed in R/M HNSCC. Amivantamab, an EGFR-MET bispecific antibody, may be a rational treatment. Cohort 1 of OrigAMI-4 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT06385080) evaluated subcutaneous amivantamab administered every 3 weeks in participants with non-human papillomavirus R/M HNSCC after PD-(L)1 inhibitor and platinum-based chemotherapy. Prior anti-EGFR therapy and p16-positive oropharyngeal cancer were exclusionary. The primary end point was RECIST v1.1 ORR. Secondary end points included duration of response (DoR), progression-free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety. In 102 participants, blinded independent central review‑assessed ORR was 42% (95% CI, 32 to 52); the complete response rate was 15%. Median DoR was not reached (NR; 95% CI, 6.9 to NR); 56% of responses lasted ≥6 months. Investigator-assessed ORR was 47% (95% CI, 37 to 57). At a median follow-up of 11.8 months (range, 1.1-21.9), median PFS and OS were 6.8 months (95% CI, 5.2 to 8.3) and 12.5 months (95% CI, 10.2 to 16.8), respectively. Adverse events were consistent with previous experience with no new safety signals. Treatment-related discontinuations were low (8%). Amivantamab demonstrated greater antitumor activity in participants previously exposed to ICI and chemotherapy than has been reported for paclitaxel or cetuximab.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

A stratified urine-based molecular diagnostic and prognostic model for non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer management.

BACKGROUND: Non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) is characterized by a high recurrence rate requiring lifelong cystoscopic surveillance. Existing urine-based molecular assays mainly rely on mutations or methylation, which fail to capture large-scale genomic instability. Copy number variation (CNV) profiling offers complementary information on tumor evolution and aggressiveness, but its application in urinary diagnosis remains limited. We aimed to integrate CNV and DNA methylation signals from urinary DNA to establish a noninvasive and biologically informed stratified diagnostic model for NMIBC recurrence surveillance and risk stratification. METHODS: Urine samples were prospectively collected from 91 patients (75 evaluable) between June 2021 and August 2023. Shallow whole-genome sequencing (sWGS) was used to detect CNVs at chromosomal arm and focal gene levels, while ONECUT2 promoter methylation was quantified by qPCR. Diagnostic and prognostic performance was evaluated by ROC analysis, Kaplan-Meier survival, and stratified recurrence assessment. RESULTS: We evaluated a stratified diagnostic model combining CNV and ONECUT2 methylation testing in a cohort of 79 patients. CNV analysis alone showed high specificity (0.923) for NMIBC diagnosis. A combined model, using CNV as an initial screen followed by ONECUT2 methylation testing in CNV-positive cases, achieved a sensitivity of 0.783, specificity of 0.981, and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 0.911. This approach reduced the number of required ONECUT2 tests by 35% and identified a high proportion of true-negative patients (98.1%), which may help reduce unnecessary cystoscopy procedures. The model also demonstrated significant prognostic value, with the molecularly defined high-risk group showing significantly shorter recurrence-free survival (RFS) than the low-risk group (median RFS: 4.33 months vs. not reached; p < 0.001). Additional, in patients with initially negative cystoscopy after urine sample collection, the model demonstrated a predictive accuracy of 0.922 for recurrence, with molecular positivity observed a median of 9.6 months prior to clinical diagnosis. CONCLUSIONS: Integrating CNV and DNA methylation profiling from urinary DNA provides a powerful and noninvasive molecular framework for NMIBC surveillance. By combining early epigenetic changes with genomic instability signals, this approach enhances recurrence risk assessment and enables earlier detection compared with conventional cystoscopy. It offers a practical route toward personalized and adaptive post-treatment monitoring of NMIBC. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT04994197.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Transcriptome-based high-frequency recurrence index predicts frequent recurrence in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer after Bacillus Calmette-Guérin therapy.

BACKGROUND: High-frequency recurrence (HfR, ≥ 2 recurrences) in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) poses a significant clinical burden. Current risk models, such as the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer (EORTC), the European Association of Urology (EAU), and the UROMOL classification, offer limited predictive accuracy for identifying patients at risk for frequent recurrence despite appropriate treatment. METHODS: A 75-gene high-frequency recurrence index (HfRI) was constructed by selecting recurrence-associated genes using differential expression and Cox regression analyses. The HfRI was computed as a weighted sum of normalized gene expression values. The model was trained on a discovery cohort and validated in multiple cohorts (n = 1379) using machine-learning approaches. Clinical relevance was assessed using recurrence-free survival (RFS) and Cox models, and predictive performance was compared with that of the EORTC, EAU, and UROMOL classifications using the area under the curve (AUC) and the concordance index (c-index). RESULTS: The HfRI robustly stratified patients into high-risk and low-risk groups across six independent NMIBC cohorts. Patients classified as HfRI-high had a significantly greater likelihood of experiencing ≥ 2 recurrences (χ2, p = 0.001) and showed markedly reduced RFS (log-rank test, p < 0.001). The adverse prognostic effect of the HfRI persisted even among patients treated with BCG therapy (log-rank test, p = 0.02). Multivariate analysis revealed that the HfRI was an independent predictor of HfR (HR = 2.82, 95% CI = 1.89-4.20, p < 0.001). Compared with established clinical risk classifiers, the HfRI demonstrated superior predictive performance (AUC = 0.736, c-index = 0.673) in terms of the EORTC (AUC = 0.594), EAU (AUC = 0.557) risk groups, and UROMOL2021 (AUC = 0.596) classification. Pathway analysis revealed that HfRI-high tumors were characterized by upregulation of cell cycle progression and DNA replication pathways, accompanied by suppression of immune signaling pathways. These biological features provide a mechanistic explanation for the reduced responsiveness to intravesical BCG therapy, underscoring the role of HfRI not only as a predictor of recurrence risk but also as a biomarker capable of identifying patients unlikely to benefit from standard BCG treatment. CONCLUSIONS: HfRI represents a robust, transcriptome-based tool for predicting frequent recurrence in NMIBC patients. The HfRI supports earlier identification of patients at risk of high-frequency recurrence, thereby supporting personalized treatment strategies.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Association between pembrolizumab-based therapy exposure and survival outcomes in metastatic or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma: a multi-center real-world study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between exposure to pembrolizumab-based therapy in the post-platinum setting and survival outcomes in patients with metastatic or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma. METHODS: In this retrospective study, patients with metastatic or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma treated at three tertiary centers between January 2008 and April 2025 were included. Patients received various treatment modalities after recurrence or progression in the post-platinum setting. Survival outcomes were analyzed according to whether patients were exposed to pembrolizumab-based therapy after recurrence or progression. Survival after recurrence and overall survival were evaluated using Kaplan-Meier analyses and Cox proportional hazards models. Additional analyses using inverse probability of treatment weighting, doubly robust methods, and time-dependent Cox models were performed. RESULTS: A total of 147 patients were included, of whom 42 (28.6%) received pembrolizumab-based therapy in the post-platinum setting. In multi-variable analyses, pembrolizumab-based therapy exposure was independently associated with improved survival after recurrence (hazard ratio 0.44, 95% confidence interval 0.24 to 0.83, p = .01) and overall survival (hazard ratio 0.48; 95% confidence interval 0.26 to 0.89, p =.02). Positive peritoneal washing cytology was independently associated with poorer survival outcomes. In time-dependent Cox analyses using inverse probability of treatment weighting, pembrolizumab-based therapy exposure remained significantly associated with improved survival after recurrence (hazard ratio 0.56, 95% confidence interval 0.33 to 0.96, p =.035), whereas the association with overall survival was no longer statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to pembrolizumab-based therapy in the post-platinum setting was associated with improved survival after recurrence in patients with metastatic or recurrent uterine carcinosarcoma. These findings support the potential clinical relevance of pembrolizumab-based therapy in the post-platinum setting and warrant further prospective validation.

Aged↗

PubMed2026

A systematic literature review on low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma of the trunk.

BACKGROUND: Low-grade myofibroblastic sarcoma (LGMS) is a rare malignant mesenchymal tumor, with primary trunk involvement being particularly uncommon. Due to its rarity, associated diagnostic challenges, and variability in management, a comprehensive evaluation of the available evidence is required. This study aims to systematically review the clinical characteristics, treatment strategies, and outcomes of truncal LGMS. METHODS: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase for articles published from January 1998 to January 2026. The review included full-text articles involving patients with a pathologically confirmed diagnosis of truncal LGMS. The collected data included patient demographics, tumor features, treatment modalities, recurrence, and follow-up status. RESULTS: Of the 404 studies initially identified, 30 studies involving 59 patients with pathologically confirmed truncal LGMS met the inclusion criteria. Outcome analyses of therapeutic management and clinical course included 45 patients with complete follow-up data, including 42 surgically treated patients and 3 non-surgically managed patients. The final evidence base consisted solely of retrospective studies and case reports. No prospective studies or randomized controlled trials were identified. Consequently, a descriptive statistical analysis was conducted instead of a meta-analysis. CONCLUSION: Current evidence indicates that wide excision with negative margins may be a reasonable primary treatment option for truncal LGMS, with case-based reports showing numerically lower recurrence after wide excision, although the evidence is limited and potentially confounded by multiple factors. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy may be considered only on a highly individualized basis for selected unresectable, recurrent, metastatic, anatomically constrained, or margin-positive cases. Given the very limited sample size and heterogeneous treatment indications across published cases, treatment efficacy cannot be reliably estimated from the available data. Prolonged long-term regular follow-up is recommended for all patients, considering the risk of late recurrence.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Long-Term Survey to Assess Recurrence and Complications of Surgically Treated Pleomorphic Adenoma.

OBJECTIVE(S): To (1) report on the long-term recurrence rate of surgically managed pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and (2) assess long-term surgical outcomes after parotidectomyMethods:Cross-sectional survey of all patients with a pathologic diagnosis of PA who underwent surgical management in a tertiary care center from 01/1997 to 12/2023 and had access to an electronic patient portal. Surveys were delivered via electronic patient portal or phone call with 6 questions to assess recurrence and long-term surgical outcomes. Time to first recurrence and recurrence free survival were analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier curve. RESULTS: Seven hundred-forty-five patients met inclusion criteria and received the survey, with a 56% response rate (n = 420). The clinical median follow-up length was 51 days, which extended to a median length of 6.2 years following the survey. The median change in follow-up length was 5.37 years (P < .001). The recurrence rate was 1% at 5 years, with a median time to first recurrence of 7.54 years. 13% and 9% of responders reported facial asymmetry and incisional cosmetic concerns, respectively. 33% of patients reported experiencing Frey syndrome, which increased from 5.2% of survey responders with documented Frey syndrome at their original post-operative assessment. CONCLUSION: Long-term assessment of PA outcomes confirms low recurrence rates, suggesting regular surveillance of recurrence is likely unnecessary. Complaints of Frey syndrome increased in frequency with longer term follow-up, which should be considered during patient counseling. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: 3.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Higher Expression of HPV16 Derived E7_LI Transcript Observed in Men With HIV and Recurrent Anal Cancer.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the anus (SCCA) or anal cancer (AC) is an understudied cancer with a high occurrence rate in people with HIV (PWH), especially men having sex with men (MSM). Furthermore, AC recurs in approximately one-fourth of patients who undergo standard care with chemoradiation therapy (CRT). Using bulk RNA sequencing data of AC obtained from 12 patients with non-recurrent (NR, N = 9) or recurrent (R, N = 3) cancer, we previously showed upregulated expression of key immune genes in the NR compared to the R group. Although the main causative agent of AC is high-risk human papillomavirus (HPV), association of host and viral RNA transcript expression contributing to AC recurrence has not been extensively studied. The objective of the current study was to determine whether enrichment of specific HPV genotypes and/or HPV gene expression patterns differentiate the two groups and if any specific viral (HPV) and host (human) immune mediators correlate with each other. Using bulk RNA sequencing data and VIRTUS 2, we detected viral RNA reads mapping to seven high-risk and six low-risk HPV types, of which the high-risk HPV16 observed in 83% (10/12) AC tumors (7/9 NR and 3/3 R). Rate of all HPV genomes trended toward a decrease in NR AC isolates and correlation between HPV types was more commonly observed in low-risk ones. Analysis of HPV 16 gene expression profile showed a significantly lower positivity rate for a polycistronic transcript encoding for E7^L1 in the NR group (1/9, NR vs. 3/3, R, p < 0.05). An unbiased correlation analysis of HPV-human transcript expression showed a direct correlation between HPV transcripts and human genes involved in cell growth. The data also identified human transcripts showing an inverse correlation with HPV gene expression. These included genes involved in negative regulation of growth, proliferation, and immune response. Taken together, these data indicate that concurrent analyses of viral and host factors in the same tumor can identify potential new therapeutic targets to ameliorate cancer recurrence post-treatment.

Humans↗